providential
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or resulting from divine providence.
providential care.
-
opportune, fortunate, or lucky.
a providential event.
- Synonyms:
- happy
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nonprovidential adjective
- nonprovidentially adverb
- providentially adverb
- unprovidential adjective
- unprovidentially adverb
Etymology
Origin of providential
1640–50; < Latin prōvidenti ( a ) providence + -al 1
Explanation
If your best friend pulls up beside you in her convertible just as your bike gets a flat tire, you could call it providential, or magically lucky. The Latin root of providential is providentia, "foresight or precaution." Providence changed over the years; it usually referred specifically to the care of God, and it was spelled with a capital P. Providential, likewise, has another meaning that's purely religious, "resulting from God's intervention." Whether you're talking about God or not, if something is providential, it feels a little miraculous.
Vocabulary lists containing providential
30 GRE Words Beginning with "P"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Twilight
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
GRE Verbal Reasoning, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Efraín, meanwhile, welcomes her as a sort of providential poet of the underclass, and wants her to read at the opening of a poetry festival.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026
“Over the last few days, many people have said it was a providential moment.”
From BBC • Jul. 19, 2024
It could have been a providential opportunity for Biden to take stock of his situation and do some serious reflection.
From Slate • Jul. 18, 2024
Instead of communicating with a cop, he exchanges information with Trudy via providential walkie-talkies.
From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2022
Despite the confident and providential statements of leaders like Paine, Jefferson, and Adams, the conclusions that look so foregone to us had yet to congeal for them.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
